This will be a series of posts about whole ingredients. I know, that sounds lame, but many people who feed raw diets will find that, even though they hit all of the right nutritional labels with their meals, that their dog is still lacking somehow. This is typically because they are filling in the gaps in their dog's diet with supplements, which do not always absorb as readily as whole ingredients.
If you've been around our pups long enough, you've definitely heard us talk about Omega 3's, fatty acids, or the shiny-coat-maker. You are more than welcome to feed fish oils/supplements, but take a look at what your dog can gain out of a whole-ingredient alternative:
ALPHA-LINOLENIC ACID (ALA)
Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are all Omega 3 Fatty Acids. While ALA can be metabolized into EPA and DHA, dogs have a very low conversion rate compared to other animals. Therefore, ALA should not be relied upon as a source of EPA and DHA in raw diets. It is necessary to provide sources for both ALA and EPA/DHA in the diet. ALA is required in small amounts to balance the Linoleic Acid (LA) in raw diets.
Recommended Allowance (RA) of alpha-linolenic acid per 1000kcal:
ADULT DOG - 110mg recommended allowance PUPPY - 200mg recommended allowance
Alpha-linolenic acid is an omega-3 fatty acid found mainly in plants, although it is also found in small amounts in grass-fed and pasture raised raw meat and organs. ALA is almost always deficient in ratio based raw diets. ALA occurs naturally in foods where the amino acid lysine is structurally bound to protein. Whole foods with high amounts of alpha-linolenic acid include various seeds and seed oils. Below are ALA values for various whole foods per 1oz (28g):
Raw Flax Seeds - 1oz (28g): 6518mg Data Source
Raw Chia Seeds - 1oz (28g): 5055mg Data Source
Raw Hemp Seeds - 1oz (28g): 2457mg
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